SOLUTIONS: PROBLEM SET 3

ELECTRIC CURRENT and DIRECT CURRENT CIRCUITS

PART A: CONCEPTUAL QUESTIONS

A. If we connect them in series, Req = 300Ω.

If we connect them in parallel, Req = 30 Ω
Therefore, in order to obtain a 150 Ω resistance, we have to connect the resistors in parallel and in series…
Connecting two in parallel: Req1 = 50 Ω
Connecting Req1 in series with R: Req = 150 Ω.

B. c) The wire has essentially zero resistance, compared to the light bulb, and is in parallel with it. Thus, almost
all charges flow through the wire, and practically none through the bulb.

C. Circuit 1: f) The potential difference across the branch of the circuit containing the switch is zero. Thus, there
is no current through it when the switch is closed, and nothing changes.

Circuit 2: f) Because the light bulbs are identical, the potential difference across each is 12 V, and so nothing
happens with the switch is closed.

D. Using  the  circuit:  

a) Dimmer     b)  Increase       c)  Decrease     d)  Increase    
e) Increase       f)  Decrease     g)  Nothing     h)  Increase    
i) Increase       j)  Decrease

E. The   current   will   be   the   same   because   in   series,   the   current   in   the   branch   does   not   change.   Even   if   the  
light  bulbs  are  different,  the  current  across  the  resistors  will  be  the  same.  
 
F. The  current  will  be  different  because  the  light  bulbs  are  in  parallel.  The  current  measured  between  
the  battery  will  be  equal  to  the  sum  of  the  current  in  each  branch.  The  current  will  be  greater  if  the  
resistor  is  smaller.    
 
G. In  parallel,  the  current  is  different  but  the  voltage  is  the  same.  
a) The  reading  on  the  voltmeter  will  be  the  same  since  the  voltage  is  the  same  in  parallel  branches.  
b) L2  since  the  resistance  is  less  and  in  order  to  have  the  same  voltage  across  the  branch  the  current  
has  to  be  greater.  
c) Note,   c)   and   d)   are   really   the   same   question.   A   light   bulb   which   dissipates   more   energy   will   be  
V2
brighter.   L2   will   be   brighter   because   it   dissipates   energy   at   the   rate   P =   and   L2   has   less  
R
resistance  than  L1  (but  the  same  V  in  parallel).    
 
 
 

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 L L
H. We  have  to  remember  the  relationship  between  L,  d  and  R:     R = ρ =ρ  
A π (d / 2) 2
a) If  L  is  doubled,  the  resistance  R  will  also  double.  As  long  as  the  diameter  is  the  same.  R∝L  
b) If  d  is  doubled,  the  resistance  R  decreases  by  a  factor  of  4.  R∝d-­‐2.    
c) If  L  and  d  are  doubled,  the  resistance  R  will  decrease  by  a  factor  of  2.  

 
I. Let's consider a D-cell battery. This is a device that chemically creates a charge differential; one end of the
battery is positively charged, and the other is negatively charged, so it has a voltage (typically 1.5V for
alkaline cells). The conductor (air) that separates the positive and the electrons prevents the electrons from
jumping straight to the positive charge and neutralizing the battery. Air is one of the best insulators around.
Now if you attach a wire from one terminal to the other, you have replaced the high resistance of the air
with the low resistance of the wire, and you will get a very high current as a result through the wire. It is the
chemical reaction between the conductors and the electrolyte, one electrode (the cathode) becomes
positively charged and the other, the anode becomes negatively charged.  
 
J. Wrong. When a battery is new it contains stored up chemical energy which can drive charge round a circuit.
every atom has charge and the number of atoms in the battery do not change. More to the point, the actual
electric current involves a flow of charge, but the battery does not run out of these charges either. There are
charge carriers all over the whole circuit, in the wires, the battery, any device connected to the circuit etc
and when the switch is closed to turn the current on ALL the charges throughout the whole circuit start
moving at once. Over the whole period of use, the number of charges which go out of ONE end of the
battery is the same as the number into the OTHER end. You can imagine it like a piece of string stretched
round some pulley wheels, when you turn on (pull the string) the string everywhere starts moving at the
same moment.

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PART B: NUMERICAL QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1
We obtain the resistance RA of the conductor:

L
RA = ρ
πrA2
with rA radius of conductor A
rout radius of outer conductor B
rin radius of inner conductor B

2
Therefore, the transversal area is π (rout − rin2 )

The ratio between A and B will be:

2
R A rout − rin2 (1.0mm) 2 − (0.50mm) 2
= = = 3.0
RB rA2 (0.50mm) 2

QUESTION 2
In order to find the carrier charge density needed in the current density equation, we must find the
density of atoms.

N: number of atoms
NA: avogadro’s number (6.02 × 1023 mol-1)
m: mass
M: element units
N m N m
= →N = A
NA M M

The mass density of substance is ρ = m ÷ Volume → Volume = m ÷ ρ .

The number density of atoms, n = N ÷ Volume = N ρ ÷ m = ( ρ N A ) ÷ M

8.9 ×103 kg / m3 ⋅ 6.02 ×1023 atoms / mol

With numerical values: n = −3
= 8.5 ×1028 atoms / m3
63.5 ×10 kg / mol

The current density is given from I = qnAvd

q: charge
n: number density of charges
A: cross-sectional area
vd : drift velocity
I 10 A
we solve for vd: vd = = 28 3 −6 2
= 1.5 ×10−4 m / s
qnA e ⋅ 8.5 ×10 atoms / m ⋅ 5 ×10 m

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QUESTION 3
V2
We first need to find the resistance of each resistors from P =
R

120 2 120 2
We have: R1 = = 240Ω and R2 = = 160Ω
60 90

a) when the resistors are connected in series, the current through them is the same and equal to:
ε 120V
I= = = 0.3 A
R1 + R2 400Ω

The voltage of each light will be:

V1 = R1 I = 240Ω ⋅ 0.3 A = 72V
V2 = R2 I = 160Ω ⋅ 0.3 A = 48V
Vtot = V1 + V2 = 72 + 48 = 120V

The power dissipated in each resistor is:

P1 = I 2 R1 = 21.6W
P2 = I 2 R2 = 14.4W
Ptot = I 2 Req = P1 + P2 = 36.0W

b) When the resistors are connected in parallel, the voltage across them is the same and equal to:
Vtot = 120V = V1 = V2

The equivalent resistance is found from : Req = ( R1−1 + R2−1 ) −1 = 96Ω

ε 120V
The current in the circuit is I tot = = = 1.25 A
Req 96Ω

The current in each light bulb is:

V 120V
I1 = = = 0.5 A
R1 240Ω
V 120V
I2 = = = 0.75 A
R2 160Ω
I tot = I 1 + I 2 = 1.25 A

The power dissipated in each resistor is:

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 P1 = I 12 R1 = 60W
P2 = I 22 R2 = 90W
Ptot = I tot Req = P1 + P2 = 150W

c) Since the rate of energy dissipated by the circuit is greater when the light bulbs are in parallel
(Pparallel > Pseries), we conclude that the brightness will also be greater in parallel.

d) The light bulbs in series are more economical because the power dissipated in less. However,
there are some inconvenient to this. If one light bulb burns or is unscrewed in series, not more
current flows!

QUESTION 4
I3

:I1 I2
a) The current in R1:
ε 5.0V
I1 = = = 1.14 A
R1 + ( R2−1 + R3−1 )−1 2.0Ω + (4.0−1 + 6.0−1 )−1

therefore, the current in R3 is:

ε − V1 ε − I1 R1 5.0V − (1.14 A ⋅ 2.0Ω)
I3 = = = = 0.45 A
R3 R3 6.0Ω

b) We exchange R1 and R3 in the above equation:

ε 5.0V
I3 = −1 −1 −1
= = 0.68 A
R3 + ( R + R )1 2 6.0Ω + (2.0 −1 + 4.0 −1 ) −1
and
ε − V3 ε − I 3 R3 5.0V − (0.68 A ⋅ 6.0Ω)
I1 = = = = 0.45 A
R1 R1 2.0Ω

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QUESTION 5
I1 I3

Loop1 Loop2
I2

We have three unknowns (I1, I2 and I3) so three equations are needed.

a) With Kichhoff’s law of current and from the above currents in the circuit:
(1) I 1 + I 2 + I 3 = 0

But, the direction of one current is incorrect… It will not cause any difference because the current will
be negative. Let apply the voltage law on loop 1:

(2) ΣV = −2.0V − 6.0V − 10.0Ω ⋅ I 2 + 4.0Ω ⋅ I1 = 0

The emf are negative since we encounter the + side first. From (2):
− 8.0V + 4.0Ω ⋅ I 1
(3) I2 = = −0.8 A + 0.4 I 1
10.0Ω

from loop 2
(4) ΣV = 6.0V − 8.0Ω⋅ I3 + 10.0Ω⋅ I 2 + 5.00 = 0

we substitute I3 from equation (1): I 3 = − I 1 − I 2 in equation (4) and solve for I2:

(5) 11V − 8.0Ω⋅ (− I1 − I 2 ) + 10.0Ω⋅ I 2 = 0

− 11.0V 8.0Ω
(6) I2 = − I 1 = −0.611A − 0.444 ⋅ I 1
18.0Ω 18.0Ω

Since equation (3) equals equation (6)

− 0.8 A + 0.4 ⋅ I1 = −0.611A − 0.444 ⋅ I1
I1 = 0.224A

Therefore we can substitute in equation (6) and (1)

I 2 = −0.8 A + 0.4 ⋅ 0.224 A = −0.710 A in the figure, I2 has to be on the other direction
I 3 = − I1 − I 2 = −0.224 A − (−0.710 A) = 0.486 A

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Verify the results:

From the external loop:

ΣV = −2.0V + 5.0V − 8.0Ω ⋅ I 3 + 4.0Ω ⋅ I 1 = 0
3V − 8.0Ω ⋅ 0.486 A + 4.0Ω ⋅ 0.224 A = 0
b) The potential difference between points a and b is:
Vb − 10.0Ω ⋅ I 2 + 6.0V = Va
Vb − Va = 10.0Ω ⋅ 0.710 − 6.0V = 1.1V

QUESTION 6
a) The current when the resistors are in series will be:

ε 10.0V
I= = = 10 mA
R1 + R2 + R3 100Ω + 220Ω + 680Ω

The current will be the same in all resistors in series. However, the voltmeter will have a different
reading, depending on the resistance.

V1 = IR1 = 1.0V
V2 = IR23 = 9.0V
V3 = IR3 = 6.8V

b) Voltmeter 2, is connected across resistors 2 and 3.

ε
Since V2 = I ( R2 + R3 ) and I=
R1 + R2 + R3

ε ε ( R2 + R3 )
V2 = ⋅ ( R2 + R3 ) =
R1 + R2 + R3 ( R1 + R2 + R3 )

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QUESTION 7

I1
I3 I4
I2

The light bulb, the toaster and the crock are in parallel; we can find the equivalent resistance:
−1 −1 −1
Req = ( Rbulb + Rcrock + Rtoaster ) −1 = (240−1 + 80 −1 + 20 −1 ) −1 = 15Ω

Let consider the left hand side of the circuit has loop 1.

We have a single loop:

ΣV = 120V − Rwire I 1 − Req I 1 = 120V − 1Ω ⋅ I 1 − 15Ω ⋅ I 1 = 0
Loop1
I 1 = 7.5 A

The current law: I 2 + I 3 + I 4 = I 1 and because the branches are in parallel, the voltage across each
resistor is the same.

V2 = V3 = V4 = Veq = 15Ω ⋅ I 1 = 112 .5V

112.5V
I2 = = 0.46 A
240Ω
112.5V
I3 = = 1. 4 A
80Ω
112.5V
I4 = = 5 .6 A
20Ω

Verify the results:

I1 = I 2 + I 3 + I 4 = 7.5 A = 0.46 A + 1.4 A + 5.6 A = 7.5 A

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QUESTION 8
a) before the switch is closed, resistors R1 and R2 are in series and R3 and R4 are also in series. The
equivalent resistance for each combination is:

R12 = R1 + R2 = 4.00Ω + 10.0Ω = 14.0Ω

R34 = R3 + R4 = 12.0Ω + 10.0Ω = 22.0Ω

R12 and R34 are in parallel, therefore the equivalent resistance of the system is:
( R34−1 + R12−1 ) −1 = Req = 8.55Ω

V 25.0V
From Ohm’s law: V = RI → I = = = 2.92 A
Req 8.55Ω

The current in each branch will be:

V 25.0V
I 12 = 12 = = 1.78 A
R12 14.0Ω
(and I1 = I2 and I3 = I4)
V 25.0V
I 34 = 34 = = 1.14 A
R34 22.0Ω
Check the result:
I tot = I12 + I 34 = 2.92 A

b) The switch is now closed. We have to find the equivalent resistance of the circuit where R1 and R3 are
in parallel and R2 and R4 are in parallel.

R13 = ( R1−1 + R3−1 ) −1 = (4.00 −1 + 12.0 −1 ) −1 = 3.00Ω

R24 = ( R2−1 + R4−1 ) −1 = (10.0 −1 + 10.0 −1 ) −1 = 5.00Ω

R13 and R24 are in series. The equivalent resistance of the circuit is
Req = R13 + R24 = 3.00 + 5.00 = 8.00Ω

V 25.0V
From Ohm’s law: V = RI → I = = = 3.13 A
Req 8.00Ω

The current through each resistor; we have to find the voltage across each resistor, and the voltage
across R1 and R3 is the same, the voltage across R2 and R4is the same.

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 V13 IR13 3.13 A ⋅ 3.00Ω
I1 = = = = 2.34 A
R1 R1 4.00Ω
V24 IR24 3.13 A ⋅ 5.00Ω
I2 = = = = 1.56 A
R2 R2 10.0Ω
V13 IR13 3.13 A ⋅ 3.00Ω
I3 = = = = 0.78 A
R3 R3 12.0Ω
V24 IR24 3.13 A ⋅ 5.00Ω
I4 = = = = 1.56 A
R4 R4 10.0Ω

Check the result:

I = I1 + I 3 = I 2 + I 4
3.13 A = 2.34 A + 0.78 A = 1.56 A + 1.56 A
3.13 ≈ 3.12 A ≈ 3.12 A

c) Before the switch is closed: R1 and R2 are in series and R3 and R4 are in series. From the
results in part a), we can find the voltage across each resistor.

V1 = R1 I 1 = I 12 R1 = 1.78 A ⋅ 4.00Ω = 7.14V

V2 = R2 I 2 = I 12 R2 = 1.78 A ⋅ 10.0Ω = 17.86V
V3 = R3 I 3 = I 34 R3 = 1.14 A ⋅ 12.0Ω = 13.64V
V4 = R4 I 4 = I 34 R4 = 1.14 A ⋅ 10.0Ω = 11.36V

Check the result:

Vtot = V1 + V2 = V3 + V4
25.0V = 7.14V + 17.86V = 13.64V + 11.36V
25.0V = 25.0V = 25.0V

The voltage at points a and b:

Va = 25.0V − V1 = 25.0V − 7.14V = 17.9V
Vb = 25.0V − V3 = 25.0V − 13.64V = 11.4V

The potential difference between point a and b:

Vab = Vb − Va = 11.36V − 17.85V = 6.49V

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 After the switch is closed, Vab = 0 because connecting points a and b forces the potential at points
and b to be the same, so that their potential difference is zero.

d)

I I3
I1

IS is the current through the switch

IS
I1 = I S + I 2
I2 I4
I S = I 1 − I 2 = 2.34 A − 1.56 A = 0.78 A

As a double check (!!) we apply Kirchhoff’s current rule at point b

I S + I3 = I4
I S = I 4 − I 3 = 1.56 A − 0.78 A = 0.78 A

The current is flowing from a to b (because the current found is positive)

QUESTION 9

The total power when the if the electric frying pan, the coffee and the toaster are used:

Ptot = Ppan + Pcoffee + Ptoaster = 1000W + 600W + 700W = 2300W

The current flowing in the circuit is:

P = VI → I = P ÷ V = 2300 ÷ 120 = 19.1A

I system 〈 I fuse therefore, Jim should make the toasts (Jenny will be happy!)

However, if the overhead light is on, the total power will increase;

Ptot = Ppan + Pcoffee + Ptoaster + Plight = 1000W + 600W + 700W + 100W = 2400W

The current flowing in the circuit is:

P = VI → I = P ÷ V = 2400 ÷ 120 = 20 A

I system = I fuse therefore, the overhead light should not be on.

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QUESTION 10
As one of the voltmeters indicates the voltage exceeding the battery emf, the black box contains at least
one battery. Let us try the simplest combination of one battery and one resistor inside the black box.

There are two different voltages across two identical ammeters. The voltage across the left ammeter
(10mA) is equal to

3.6V − 3.3V = 0.3V

It permits us to calculate the voltage across the right ammeter (12mA) which is equal to

12
0.3V × = 0.36V
10

Now it is possible to calculate the emf inside the black box:

ε = 3.6 + 0.36V = 3.96V

We can compare the currents in two identical voltmeters. The current of 12mA splits in the node N into
two currents: 10 mA through the left ammeter and 2 mA through the left voltmeter. The internal
resistance of the voltmeter is

V 3.6
R= = = 1.8k Ω
I 0.002

Current in the right voltmeter is:

V 3V
I= = = 1.7mA
R 1800Ω

So, in the loop with the battery in the black box, unknown resistor and right voltmeter the following is
correct:
3.96V − 3V
Rx = = 565Ω
1.7 ×10−3 A

The direction of the inbox emf must be as it is shown in the following figure:

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